It’s the staple of every city and town in the Southern portion of the United States and one of the few things in life you can truly count on day in and day out. Friends and family members may come and go, the slugger on your favorite team may be traded, and your trusty vehicle – the one you named after your first girlfriend – may even break down.

But there is one thing you can always count on. There’s one thing you know will always be there for you.

Waffle House.

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year (plus a bonus day once every four years), Waffle House won’t let you down.

That expectation keeps bringing customers back. In fact, drop in sometime and you’ll notice that there are plenty of others enjoying signature items like the award-winning Waffle House Classic Blend Coffee, Alice’s Iced Tea, Walt’s Soup and Bert’s Chili; or any number of breakfast foods, melts and dinner items.

Of course, any place named Waffle House better do waffles right. And by the looks of the empty plates that once held original sweet cream, pecan, chocolate chip or buttermilk waffles, it’s not difficult to figure out how this place got its name.

But the food is just one slice of the Waffle House experience. The restaurant is somewhat reminiscent of a classic roadside diner, and when you take it all in, you’ll notice that there’s a lot going on. 

The waiters and waitresses are bopping from table to table, taking orders and sharing stories, dropping off food and making new friends. The classic jukebox belts out hits from all genres, including a few Waffle House originals such as “Waffle Do Wop,” “844,739 Ways To Eat A Hamburger,” and “I’m Going Back To The Waffle House.” Sure, it’s laid back, but it’s plenty active.

But after eating at Waffle House, a few questions are likely to enter your mind. Questions like, “Do they have locks on the doors at Waffle House?” and “What’s the difference between the people at the tables and the people at the counter?”

And, of course, “How much better would life be if everything was scattered, smothered and covered?”

Find out for yourself at the Waffle House located at 601 Turner McCall Blvd. in Rome, a valuable member of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. It’s open now, and they are waiting for you.

You can count on it.

Originally appeared in Directions, a publication of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, in 2007.